help in estate choice

[gIzzE]

You are so sure you are right that you just don't read what others write. I do not choose on snob value and in fact have been trying the 5 series recently including several test drives. But in the end I have chosen to buy the E class. (see another thread)

My response was based on your , ugly, common and chav comments.
You really sound like someone who would really buy one.

I think the E looks much nicer. I do care what a car looks like. It offers a much better ride.

Hmm, in your opinion, which is great and why we have a choice.

It has more space.

We actually agree on something.

It is more reliable according to major surveys (not just one person's opinion).

According to a survey filled out by consumers who can be bothered to fill it out. I would like to see MB and BMW records to see which is more reliable.
Again the percentage of problem cars will be so small it doesn't really matter.

It is safer -I do care about my safety and that of my family. Sorry if you find that boring.

Boring??you? f course not!

And if you found time to check you would know that Mercedes are not slow but offer performance up to almost any level you could wish or afford. Try an AMG E class. Your ignorance of the marque is astonishing for one who chooses to come to an MB enthusiasts website.

I know the Merc range well, last 6 cars I have had in my company are 1999 C200 estate, 2000 C220cdi estate, 2002 E270 cdi, 2003 S320 cdi and ML270 cdi and then a 2005 S320cdi, until last year. Won't say what the S was replaced with, don't dare!!

What I meant about power and consumption is there is nothing yet in the range that competes with the 335i, 335d, 535d etc. etc. that doesn't cost serious money or drink lots of fuel.

As for poor consumption, one of the biggest complaints by BMW owners according to JD Power is that they do not get anywhere near the mileage per gallon that the maker claims. Go to the What Car website and you can read for yourself.

But then who does??

My C220cdi estate returned 36mpg over 2 years and 86k miles.
My 320d that replaced it returned only 34mpg over 12 months and 41k miles.

In comparison my current 320d touring auto is returning 48mpg (which is a hell of a lot better than the 2005 one that was only seeing 34mpg). Right now the efficient dynamics of the BMWs do appeal.

Problem with customers is that in general they are funkin' idiots, the amount of people that come on a forum and say.. "the offical figures say I can get 50mpg from my E320 cdi extra urban and I am only seeing 36mpg" is amazing.

Have they actually looked at how the extra urban figure is calculated?? Of course those figures are not achievable in our traffic light filled, roundabout scattered, over congested stop start roads of the UK.

If you will let facts interfere with your PR for BMW.

The fact of the matter is, the OP asked...

"Looking at New c 220cdi estate,530d estate(auto),A4 3.otdi auto Quattro avant.......

.....Anyone know more?What would your choice be?"


To which I gave a bit of my experience as someone who does 40k miles a year in these cars, having owned both the E61 5 series and an A4 quattro avant. Nothing more than that.

 

[Barryh]

Personally, I would wait till next year and get the most gorgeous estate car out there (the W212)

Is that an image of the w212 or a c class?

Local dealer reckons new estate is 18 months away!

 

[st4]

Is that an image of the w212 or a c class?

Local dealer reckons new estate is 18 months away!

The 212 is a lovely looking car, but you said space wasn't a top priority so I'd still be tempted if I were you to go for a 204. Also the 204 has very good reliability feedback, the 212 will probably be an altogether more complex beast so the 1st year or so of these cars might be a bit iffy.

When does the lease end on the E280cdi, timing may be a deciding factor too.

 

[Barryh]

When does the lease end on the E280cdi, timing may be a deciding factor too.[/QUOTE]


ENDS ON 19TH DEC.I could keep it a bit longer,but now i have the bug.some well spec`d cars fro mb direct ,about 10k off list,low miles & age,but are not vat qualifying.I could buy outright ,but with depreciation such a problem I am not risking it.Not with 25k PA mileage.

 

[st4]

When does the lease end on the E280cdi, timing may be a deciding factor too


ENDS ON 19TH DEC.I could keep it a bit longer,but now i have the bug.some well spec`d cars fro mb direct ,about 10k off list,low miles & age,but are not vat qualifying.I could buy outright ,but with depreciation such a problem I am not risking it.Not with 25k PA mileage.

Its going to be too early for an S212 by the looks of things, try the C320cdi just to make sure you're not downsizing needlessly enginewise too.

 

[Fandango]

Is that an image of the w212 or a c class?

Local dealer reckons new estate is 18 months away!

The picture is from a German car magazine

The description says "Mercedes E-class T-model, 4.9 meters long, 700 litres luggage capacity, mildly curved roof line."

It's out in Europe in March '09, so I guess you're right, it means a longer wait for the right hand drive version.

 

[hawk20]

So what are you going to do Barryh?
Please keep us posted.

 

[Barryh]

So what are you going to do Barryh?
Please keep us posted.

I was in local dealer last night picking up SLk (oil pump replaced as it was a little noisy,took a week to diagnose-Car 18 months old!),anyway,looked at c class again,and thought my 211 is much nicer.So thoughts are to keep existing for a year and hope new model comes,or buy(unsure if wise move on 23k pa)a 6 mth-1 yo e class for around 327k fully loaded ,It appears should save me about £100 pm on payments,with no ties.

I will have changed my mind by lunchtime..teatime..tonight...........

 

[Barryh]

I was in local dealer last night picking up SLk (oil pump replaced as it was a little noisy,took a week to diagnose-Car 18 months old!),anyway,looked at c class again,and thought my 211 is much nicer.So thoughts are to keep existing for a year and hope new model comes,or buy(unsure if wise move on 23k pa)a 6 mth-1 yo e class for around 327k fully loaded ,It appears should save me about £100 pm on payments,with no ties.

I will have changed my mind by lunchtime..teatime..tonight...........

Before enyone jumps in ,I am not buying an expensive AMG at £327K,just a typing error!!

 

[gIzzE]

This was a rather heated thread with a couple of people banging on about how poor BMW was compared to just about everyone else because of reliability before even looking at anything else....

That was based on the JD Power survey, which to me says nothing as it takes a certain demographic or someone really annoyed to bother with it.

This is the FN50 survey, proper reports from lease companies with true data..

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/story/?nID=48642

 

[gIzzE]

Means sod all to me, as I said, I don't really think there is a bad car these days, and most of the time things that go wrong are an annoyance rather than total failure like they used to be.

But just thought I would post this, although I can see some attacks coming!

 

[st4]

This was a rather heated thread with a couple of people banging on about how poor BMW was compared to just about everyone else because of reliability before even looking at anything else....

That was based on the JD Power survey, which to me says nothing as it takes a certain demographic or someone really annoyed to bother with it.

This is the FN50 survey, proper reports from lease companies with true data..

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/story/?nID=48642

Do you have more of a model break down within that. There are endless combinations of engines and gearboxes that go with 3 series cars (naturally aspirated petrol engines and manual getting my nod if I was getting a BMW). Actually there are so many options on the BMW list that no 2 cars are probably the same.

 

[gIzzE]

No mate sorry, to be honest I don't really care either, unless a car is notorious for going wrong, Alfas from the 80's and 90's spring to mind! , then it doesn't bother me.

I think the 320d accounts for 60% of sales so I would guess that is turbo diesel mainly?

 

[fuzzer]

All this talk of turbo's blowing etc is just twoddle.

Bmw's are just as reliable as Merc's and they do actually have better engines.

At every point , the bmw engine is more efficient through power output and fuel efficiency than the mercedes/audi counterpart.

Horses for courses , at the end of the day buy what you like to look at and drive , either will do what you are asking.

 

[gIzzE]

.......at the end of the day buy what you like to look at and drive..........

Exactly! If you are buying a car because of a reliability survey you haven't found the car the car for you yet imho.

 

[pint6x]

Enjoy your A Class. Thrill a fukin' minute!!!

:bannana:

 

[st4]

Alfas from the 80's and 90's spring to mind! , then it doesn't bother me.

Ah the old Alfa Setzlers, place them in water, they do dissolve that fast :bannana:

So barryh there you have it, don't buy an Alfa and the body panels around you will remain....

 

[pint6x]

E class lease is coming to an end and dont know what to get next.

Looking at New c 220cdi estate,530d estate(auto),A4 3.otdi auto Quattro avant.
I do not like BMW interior,run flat ride, but car is fast and good MPG.Merc only does 3.2 and is thirsty ,2220 is not much better,but is fast and both are rated higher and better handling than Audi without Quattro.
With the Quattro I think the Audi will be better overall than the others.
Anyone know more?What would your choice be?

I like the new C class, though I think the Beemer will be bigger and quicker - it's really in the next size up category. I have heard the A4 is pretty soulless and not very reliable, though I have had two A6 diesels and they were both pretty damn good and had no reliability problems at all, covering nearly 200,000 miles between them - front wheel drive, but it didn't bother me since I wasn't doing any track days.

If size isn't an issue I would have the C class 220CDi over an A4 or a 3 series.

If you need more space, I would try the A6 diesel in the next category up, though if you like the looks of the 530d try it. Also, don't dismiss the new shape Volvo V70 D5 185bhp - it goes very very well, and the seats are very comfortable. I think the E class is pricey for what it offers, though I do like the face lifted W211. The E220CDi is 170bhp and goes very well according to the road tests.

Nope - C220CDi or if you need more space, V70 D5 185bhp would be my choice.

 

[190E 2.6]

My better half has the E320 CDI Estate ,Avantegarde Keyless go ...all the bells etc .

She is a dream, for a diesel its a flyer.

See if you can get a test drive in one, I think you will be pleasantly surprised